Laptop

[Stan Goodman]

At 11:59:22 on Friday Friday 03 September 2010, Shlomi Fish 
<shlomif at iglu.org.il> wrote:
> On Friday 03 September 2010 06:04:59 Steve G. wrote:
> > My 4+ year old Macbook is dying a slow death, and I am contemplating
> > getting a new laptop and would like your advice. Here are the
> > parameters:
> >
> >
> >    -  My environment is Linux, Ubuntu for the last 2-3 years, and I
> > would like to have it available to me on the laptop if I can. I have
> > little use for either Mac OS-X or Windows as far as actually making
> > much use of the software, beyond vary basic usage (iTunes, VLC,
> > etc.). Linux is a different story.
> >
> >
> >    -  I have several reasons to buy a Windows 7 machine. First, I
> > have a Magellan GPS that only works with Windows. Second, some bank
> > accounts require it to fully function. Third, I can get a lot more
> > computer for the money with Wintel than with Apple. Last, Ubuntu
> > Laptops with the latest hardware may or may not work.
> >
> >
> >    - So, I am thinking about getting a 64x, core i3 laptop from
> > Toshiba or Dell. These are available with 13-15" screen, 250-350GB HD
> > (I think IDE, some are Sata but more expensive), 3-4GB RAM. In
> > theory, at least, these can be virtualized, and I should be able to
> > run either vmware, xen, virtual box or whatever client MS provides
> > for free. One can get core i3 for around $500
> >
> > So here are my questions:
> >
> > 1. Does anyone know if Win7 includes a virtualization program that
> > would allow me to run Linux under it? How efficient is it - will I be
> > able to put it on full screen, forget I am running Windows, and use
> > my preferred environment?
>
> I don't know if it "includes" anything like that, but you can always
> install something like the open-source VirtualBox:
>
> http://www.virtualbox.org/

You could even (what am I saying?) run Linux on the machine, and run 
Windows under VirtualBox for your GPS.

> I've been using VirtualBox happily on top of Linux. There's also VMware
> which isn't free or gratis and other solutions.
>
> > 2. Any recommendations for something that is fully compatible with
> > Linux, in case I get an alternative and can get rid of the windows
> > part?
>
> I bought this Acer laptop:
>
> http://www.shlomifish.org/meta/FAQ/#computers-specs
>
> "Acer Aspire 5738DZG" and it works perfectly fine with Mandriva Linux
> 2010.1 (most everything I've tried there works, with a few minor
> glitches), though it's a relatively old model - Dual Core.
>
> Regards,
>
> 	Shlomi Fish



-- 
Stan Goodman
Qiryat Tiv'on
Israel